DS17 wanting to sign up, please share your experiences

[MrsPicklesonSmythe]

DS17 is currently in his 2nd year of a trade qualification at college, but in all honesty, his heart isn't really in it and he's talked to me today about wanting to join the army.

I'm torn, (I've given him my absolute support but..) on the one hand, I think it's probably what he needs as a young man struggling to find his place and sense of direction and because he has a passion for fitness. On the other hand....my baby!!!! 😪

As he'd be over 17.5yrs at time of recruitment it's my understanding that he'd go straight into basic training with the adult recruits. He understands that the training will be incredibly tough but is doing research to fully understand what he'd be in for. I cant imagine he'd be put off though from how he's talking.

Does anyone have any experiences to share of this, how you or your dc coped and if they regretted their choices.

Would be really grateful for any wise words.

Hi,

So my partner is in the RAF having joined at 17 too. He’s now 28 and had signed on til 28. It will be the making of him!

Dd is absolutely loving it, you need to have to accept you are told what to do most of the time, and to do things that seem silly or petty (coiling your belt one way on the shelf for instance) but they have been her only complaints.

My eldest DS (19) is currently going through basic training in the RAF it's not easy but he's with a good group of lads and they help each other out , we are missing him but I'd be more worried if he'd gone to Ibiza for two weeks with his mates, he's learning so many life skills too, we're so very proud of him 😊

My DS joined the Navy. Its been excellent for him. He was 19 when he went and as the recruitment can take a while your DS will probably be older when he joins.
I would suggest he looks into all of the Forces and speaks to the recruiting officers as well.

I’ve had a few family members in the military.

One joined the army at 17, got trained in many different technical things, made friends for life, travelled and saw the world, then left in his mid-twenties and went into the city where he now makes great money doing something very different. His time in the army was the making of him.

Another joined the navy at 16, got into heavy drinking straight away which the navy strongly encouraged (perhaps things are different now), spent many years as an alcoholic and had a couple of failed marriages. His life would have been better if he hadn’t joined.

So make what you will of that. I think for someone who isn’t academic and isn’t sure what to do with their life the military is fantastic but watch out for the heavy drinking culture.

Bloody good parties though.

DH was in the Royal Marines. He joined as a junior Marine, got his green beret, then worked his way up to Major. He loved most of it, though Northern Ireland wasn't brilliant. Now retired on a good pension.